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LAHORE: Ajmal Kasab, the ‘baby-faced butcher’, arrived on the scene in November 2008 and even though he was executed in a Pune jail about four years later on Wednesday, his image and his stereotype threatens to live on without being fully probed.

The criminal investigation or a lack of it apart, no serious study to understand his coming about has yet been undertaken and none is likely if the conventional and convenient methods of investigation continue to be obsessively applied.

Ajmal Kasab was the lone survivor among the 10 Mumbai attackers. In late November 2008 intelligence leaks to Indian media claimed he was a Pakistani hailing from a village named Faridkot. A search was launched by media in Pakistan and many Faridkots beckoned out of their unnoticed existence on the map. Finally, after a series of blanks, a tip from Okara in central Punjab said Ajmal Kasab’s family might be living in Faridkot village bang on the Kasur-Depalpur road, not far from Depalpur town.

An investigation by a Dawn reporter confirmed that Amir Kasab, identified by Indian media as the father of Ajmal, had indeed settled in Faridkot many years ago after arriving from nearby Haveli Lakha, and that among his children was a son who had left home some time ago.

Two Dawn journalists arrived in a neat-looking Faridkot lane in the first week of December, 2008. They were looking for the Kasab home and were met on the way by a man of medium build, clad in shalwar kameez. “Do you know someone from the Kasab family? Are they home?,” the man was asked.

“I am Kasab,” he replied. Then quickly and mechanically, he took out his identity card from his chest pocket, as if he had kept it handy for an impending identification. “Amir Kasab,” the card read.

In a few seconds, the journalists were inside Amir Kasab’s house. A pale-eyed woman sat on a charpoy, introduced to the visitors as Ajmal’s mother. Two younger women who stood by were identified as Ajmal’s sisters. Also around and visibly intrigued by the visit was a young boy in winter school uniform. He was said to be Ajmal’s younger brother.

A few hours earlier, the same journalists had found the details in the Indian media’s breaking stories on Ajmal Kasab a bit too difficult to stomach --- an example of how intelligence agencies used media to forward their own interests, how too much information gave a story-teller away. It was a story they were desperate to disprove, ready to suffer the embarrassment that awaits pursuers at the end chasing a red herring. In these stories, the attacker was painted as a poor runaway boy who, after wandering through Lahore, had met his jihadi handlers in Rawalpindi. However, in the poor and well-kempt courtyard of the Kasab family that afternoon, the probing journalists found some striking similarities between their surroundings and the bits reported in Indian media accounts of Ajmal’s confessions.

The reports said Amir Kasab was a snacks-seller in Faridkot, and now a handcart stood in one corner of the yard, stacked with steel plates and glasses washed and ready to serve. Amir said he sold pakoras in the village, a collection of quite spacious brick-houses against a background of richly cultivated fields and smoke-emitting factories that had been under-projected in the media leaks.

Much more devastating, the master of the house admitted the pictures flashed in media were his son’s. “Initially, I did not own up to this. But now I know that this is my son,” he said.

Then he sobbed and his wife’s face disappeared in the chador she had on her. The younger lot of the family looked on, as did the small crowd that had gathered inside the house, probably neighbours not all of whom were comfortable with the content of the unfolding conversation.

There were a few points which Amir Kasab adamantly denied. The media had implied that he had taken money against Ajmal’s services to the ‘handlers’ of the Mumbai attack --- an accusation that has been repeated after the execution now. “He had asked me to buy Eid clothes for him. When I refused he got angry and left,” Amir’s simple explanation said.

That was apparently the only exchange between the Kasab family of Faridkot near Depalpur and the media. Over the following hours, the village was besieged by journalists faced by a local nazim and his men determined to prevent any further prying into their lives, even if it required manhandling the nosey journalists.

One reporter working with a British paper located the Kasab name on an electoral roll. Yet, no clue was available to the whereabouts of Amir Kasab and his family. They had simply vanished from the scene.

The first reaction in Pakistan back then was to disown Ajmal Kasab. Now, amid a debate as to who should claim his body, people in Faridkot are still reluctant to admit he belonged to their village. It needed some persuasion before a couple of them shared a few bits of information with Dawn on Wednesday.

One villager said Amir Kasab and his wife had briefly been in Faridkot a few times. From among those who did acknowledge the Kasabs had once been Faridkot residents told Dawn their house had since been “rented out”. The current occupants say they have been living there for three and a half years.

The house looks the same as it did in December 2008, but an animal shed has since taken up some part of the courtyard.

The advice given by elders to the locals has been to not discuss Ajmal Kasab with anyone. A local imam masjid reportedly used the mosque’s loudspeaker to tell his audience to stay away from the affair. It is this shield of silence that greeted journalists in Faridkot as they converged on the village again looking for stories to mark Ajmal Kasab’s hanging in distant Pune.

In the days following the Faridkot revelation in 2008, Pakistan and India remained locked in a tense exchange over the identity and origins of the Mumbai attackers. Pakistan was initially reluctant to admit that Ajmal was its national as the Indian side demanded action against the “Pakistan-based” perpetrators of the terrorist act.

Then, on Dec 10, 2008, Mahmood Durrani, adviser to the prime minister, did finally accept that Ajmal was a Pakistani citizen — a disclosure that cost Durrani his job. Around the same time, PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif told journalist Kim Barker of evidence which suggested that Ajmal did indeed belong to Faridkot. As the facts emerged, in time, Islamabad did shift from an outright denial to insisting on a distinction between the “state actors” and “non-state” actors, under pressure from India and the West to investigate and try Lashkar-e-Taiba men accused of masterminding Mumbai attacks.

Away from the trials and governmental standoffs, the phenomenon called Ajmal Kasab has received but only superficial attention and that too by and large from journalists working by short deadlines. The prosperous fields, the smoke-emitting mills and Amir Kasab’s own not-so-poor status have not prevented observers from looking at it from the classical poverty angle.

There is a book written by an Indian journalist which “dedicates several chapters to highlighting the Pakistani paradoxes that gave birth to Ajmal the terrorist” placing Faridkot “in an imaginary terrain existing at a distance from… civilisation”.

Task done? No need to explore any further and find out other linkages between Ajmal Kasab and his act, reasons such as enshrined in the thesis about clash between civilisations? It is this single-track approach that lends greater mystery to the affair, in the name of simplified reading and where discussion is stunted and an earnest probe is put on hold, denial comes easy. In the hush-hush of whispers Faridkot remains largely undiscovered beneath a pile of nationalist to administrative to faith-based excuses.

Comments (129) Closed

Adi

Nov 23, 2012 05:10pm

I am no fan of Bal T - but your comparison to the extremist Hafiz is not justified, BT did not send shivsaniks to go and shoot people in lahore or karachi. It is people like Hafiz / mullas inticing that. Valid point of exploitation but ridiclous comparison.

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Neo

Nov 23, 2012 10:47am

sorry to say this, but pakistan had not done anything to gain the trust and lower the hatred towards them not only from india but around the world.

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bazz

Nov 23, 2012 01:37pm

Is the threat by the LET a criminal offence? The Pakistani government never seems to take any action against these wanted criminals. Do they not want peace with India?

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baakhlaq

Nov 23, 2012 10:15am

This mystery can be resolved if those who are giving threats of taking revenge of Ajmal Qassab,s death are taken to the trial.

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raja hindustani

Nov 25, 2012 02:55pm

Get well Soon

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Ambreen

Nov 24, 2012 07:37am

Thank you for your comments Rajiv. How were these monsters created in the first place? The US actually encouraged the breeding of the Taliban when they were the Mujahideen in the war against the Soviet Union. Now, with the drone attacks, the people left without families are the ones who enroll with the terrorists. Its a snow ball that cannot be stooped. We are fighting a difficult war against our own and its a painful one at that. We weed out and kill people from within us. We lose people every day. There are good and bad people in every religion, in every country, we have had more than our fair share because our politicians played us. We have not been lucky enough to have good politicians because no respectable person would want to be one. I'm just amazed as to how when you belong to a country whose leader became the epitome of preaching peace and forgiveness, you spew such hatred.

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Sam

Nov 24, 2012 12:52pm

not sure if i should be laughing on this comment, however would respectfully like to comment that those guys were on a suicide mission, mujahideens i believe.. so all they have to do was kill people and get themselves killed... they ain't tourists who need to know the city or carry google maps with them... as for any prior recon, it was done by one Headley according to his own confessions, the info of which was used in the trainings that these terrorists had before commencing on their plot..

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Madhu

Nov 22, 2012 02:43pm

I'm an Indian and read DAWN newspaper every now and then,
First and foremost, I should admit that this is one of the unbiased new paper which is maintaining very high standard in publishing reports. Its something similar to "The Hindu" newspaper in India.
Newspapers and TV news channels in India are corrupted and biased. I think they should take a leaf out of Dawn and report unbiased new and not just work for money & TRP ratings.

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Neer Nayan

Nov 23, 2012 06:16pm

Let us stop accusations!
Abuse of impressionable and vulnerable youth is a stark reality all over the globe.
Hardly anything mysterious in this!
Let us all try to follow and propound the path of truth, tolerance, compassion and love

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kvkr

Nov 23, 2012 11:43am

AJ - May be you read a selected few Indian newspapers. Like Dawn there are good newspapers in India too.

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khalid baloch

Nov 22, 2012 07:44pm

Good factual details. Good job - Dawn

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Observer

Nov 22, 2012 07:58pm

Very Good Article.
Time for us PAKISTANIS to look within and accept responsibility!
We should be ashamed of our selves and our Govt... putting heads in the sand, denials by our people, our media etc etc. Let us all Look in the mirror and face reality. Killings of Innocent human beings by Kasab did not make our Allah any happier. He was justly hanged for 150 or so people he killed. Pray to Allah and ask for Peace. Shedding blood of others will not make this country prosperous.

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ranbir

Nov 23, 2012 04:13pm

Apology accepted.We are all from the same source.This in India we always believe.The Pakistani govt needs to make it right by arresting and punishing the perpetrators.I t always pains me to see the average Pakistani (many of whom are good friends) being held responsible for the act of a devilish few.

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Rajiv

Nov 23, 2012 04:12pm

Juvenile comments, these. It is no ones case that criminals are not found in other countries. Only that we don't find another example of the state making every effort possible to shield such monsters at the same time mouthing inane platitudes. No one believes that Pakistan will not do this again. Some sane comments that we get to read on this portal, do not seem to matter in a country deliberately fed on hatred by generations of leaders who have never shown any inclination to think well of their countrymen. Even today, the slide that we see in Pakistan's fortunes, is all of the making of its own leaders, whether uniformed or not. I saw someone comment that democracy does not seem to work in Pakistan. Sorry boss, we choose democracy not because it suits in the short run, but because we reject all other alternatives as being inferior. I don't think I need to tell Pakistanis about how democracy can be better than any other system. They have experienced more than Indians to know better. All countries have suffered imperfect democracies. A better democratic country does not drop from heaven. We need to work on it continuously. Even today, ours is far from perfect. But not once do we ever imagine that any other system could be better. Not even if it means faster development and more money in our pockets.

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ranbir

Nov 23, 2012 04:09pm

The pakistani public now has the opportunity to vindicate itself by demanding the arrests and prosecution of the ringleaders who are roaming free in plain sight.I am sure that the God u believe in will be truly happy and may bless the nation for following the path of righteousness. We are after all children of the same God.

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AJ

Nov 22, 2012 11:20pm

I am an Indian and would request that editors of Dawn give classess in journalism to Indian media. Wish India had a paper like Dawn.

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Shahbaaz

Nov 22, 2012 11:26pm

A close introspection is much needed in Pakistan today and that's precisely done by the writers.
Bravo! a long lasting peace with India can only be gained by being true and honest. Kasab was a pawn, it's high time some brave souls should figure out the true game players and bring them to justice!

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Ahmed Bangalore

Nov 23, 2012 06:45am

As salam alaikum,
I am an Indian Muslim. Though there are many poor young Muslims in India who have similar childhood like Kasab, out here we don't have bearded people in Masjids waiting to snatch our children to turn them into killing machines. Out here the police and security forces take a serious note of any mention of jihad in Masjids and public gatherings. Out here we have the freedom to kick out those mullahs who target our children to quit schools, universities and hostels to join tabligh (preaching). I don't say ours is a perfect country, but I personally have never feared some one killing me or my family during Friday prayers or Eid gatherings. I pity Kasab's mother more than any one else. What crime did she do to suffer this? I pray Allah (swt) that people who turn innocent children into killers are held accountable on the day on judgement. May the curse of all poor mothers haunt them in this life and here after.

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PK

Nov 23, 2012 09:39am

Thanks to DAWN for impartial reporting . This grade of journalism is need of the Hour & shall help to dispel a lot of misunderstandings on both sides of the Boarder.

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jsharma1234

Nov 23, 2012 04:01am

I am also a regular reader of Dawn, I feel that dawn only is a real news paper in Pakistan, specially after reading this article.

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areluctantpakistani

Nov 23, 2012 09:27am

Asad,
The Indians may well have an obsession with us but its good to go ahead and read other points of view. It broadens the mind and gives one a better understanding of the world. Considering the narrow minds and hence the strife we see in Pakistan it may be better if indeed our people can follow the footsteps of these Indians and read something from other countries (not just india) which can challenge and nourish our minds.

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Rakesh

Nov 23, 2012 04:23am

Good & wonderfully written.

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Ambreen

Nov 23, 2012 09:19am

As a Pakistani, I apologize to the Indians for such a heinous act committed by a few terrorists who unfortunately hail from the same land as the rest of us peace loving people.. Nevertheless, we too are the victim of these crimes day in and day out. These criminal minds take several innocent lives in Pakistan every day. I feel a lot of the hateful comments against the Pakistanis are misguided because we too are suffering every day because of this.

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Yatan

Nov 23, 2012 08:59am

Dawn = BBC

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Jagdish

Nov 23, 2012 08:48am

State actors were definitely involved from Pakistan. I know denial will follow

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Skaukat Farooq

Nov 23, 2012 04:03pm

Ajmal kasab was a son of a poor villager with extaordinary potenial buried inside him.Had this potential been channalized in the right direction for the good service of humanity he could have delivered entirely different results and the world could have bestowed on him awards after awards.In our sub continent our honourable leaders are not statesmen therefore no clear goals for leaders and the subjects.Every one including leaders are daily workers trying to take care of today by fair or foul means.Indian leaders have bigger resposibility as he is far bigger in all repects than other member states of the sub continet.He has to show megananmity instead of being big brother whose command is to be always followed.This will allow us to channalize the potential of our youth for the welfare of our sub continent and may be for the whole humanity.

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Amit

Nov 22, 2012 08:57pm

Confused Mind !! I doubt that you have one :)

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Zimbo_Indian

Nov 25, 2012 01:31pm

Please ask Shaheen Dhada and Renu Srinivasan if they have freedom of speech.

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siddique

Nov 23, 2012 06:35pm

We can't keep on saying we are not responsible. What Ajmal did was a heinous crime and this should never be accepted. Our leaders and agencies are the culprits for this situation. As long as we deny him to be paki and not take action to stop further Ajmals to be taken away by the terrorists, we are going to suffer.

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Ambreen

Nov 23, 2012 02:44pm

Regardless of whether he was our country man or not, he needed to be punished in a country where he had committed the act. Lots of countries refuse to extradite criminals if they commit a heinous crime. Just as an example, please feel free to google the Amanda Knox case who was held in Italy for 4 years for her trial and appeal

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Rp

Nov 23, 2012 12:54pm

Syed, Let's not get dejected so easily - democracy isn't a magic pill that cures things overnight. Embracing it regardless will (eventually) give people the power, they need to not be dictated by the handful few.

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Ambreen

Nov 23, 2012 09:34am

A very well written article. However, I feel compelled to add a few lines based on the hateful comments of our neighbors who suffered at the hands of these monsters. James Holmes, an American, killed several people in Colorado, USA during a screening of Batman Returns. Behring Breivik, a Norwegian was responsible for the 2011 Norway attacks. Does this mean we blame all Americans or all Norwegians. We suffer at the hands of these extremists every day. There are several more questions that the Indian government too needs to answer. How did these terrorists make it into the Indian waters undetected? Why didn't border patrol catch them earlier? We are all victims at the hands of the same villains. Politicians are the same every where as are the people with homicidal tendencies. We suffer the hands of both.

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human

Nov 23, 2012 12:04pm

Denial is the national character of the pakis.

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leslie in mumbai

Nov 23, 2012 08:58am

It is far better than Times of India

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Komal S

Nov 23, 2012 05:59am

I am a big fan of Dawn, for high quality reporting.
I always wonder, what if Kasab also died during the encounter. Do you think anybody in pakistan would have believed that these 10 terrorists are from pakistan?

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Rajesh

Nov 23, 2012 05:20am

Pakistan is on this stage just bcoz of people like you, who dosn't know the true national interest, has no guts to accept the truth. I really appreciate Dawn for making such impatial reporting in national interest.

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Shahid Masud (@HotMasud)

Nov 23, 2012 05:21am

In my opinion instead of investigating who Ajmal Kasab was , we need to know what were the reasons that turned Ajmal Kasab into a terrorist.

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roger

Nov 23, 2012 03:09pm

Indeed,that is my recollection too, as that of Naresh. I was so disappointed at the time that a newspaper of Dawn's standing, provided the same kind of excuses that the other Pakistani newspapers did - and concluded to myself that this was probably because of the disinformation being spread by the intelligence agencies. But I also concluded that Dawn was about as nationalistic as the rest. This above article (at least) has a healing touch.
Roger

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roger

Nov 23, 2012 03:13pm

Dear Brother - you touched my heart. It is rare that Pakistanis acknowledge that the heinous acts in 2008 were committed by their compatriots. To heal the wounds, it would indeed be appropriate for Pakistan to show expressions of regret that some sons of Pakistan committed the act and bring the others to book.
Roger

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Syed J. Ahmed

Nov 22, 2012 11:55pm

God to think about it... how many bad things have happened under this one government... first mumbai attack then sri lanka team attack and then the bin laden raid. It doesn't feel like these guys have been only around for 5 years it seems like an eternity. Please no more democracy it just doesn't seem like it works in our land.

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dockhaul

Nov 23, 2012 12:54am

so google help helps one in understanding a city like back of his own hand and inside of the buildings and 10 persons with the help of google map can siege a city that long without any help from some insider right??? is google map that helpful than who needs the help from locals and anyone from space can go through google map and hold a city hostage on their own for that many hours without knowing how to tackle local police and security people??? wake up please. those 10 from pakistan might had help from from some of your own inner moles to carry out that act of barbarism .what they did was wrong and everyone sympathize with the families who lost their loved ones but such acts cant go on with that much success until some inner hands are also involved.

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Naresh c.

Nov 22, 2012 10:19pm

Dawn is trying to take credit for what it didn't do. I read Dawn everyday after Mumbai attacks. India had given intricate details and FBI had verified it. Yet, Dawn along with other Pakistani newspapers kept denying it for more than few weeks. First, they said there were three Faridkots. Then, they said there was no Kasab family. It was a British journalist who first started reporting from Faridkot. Dawn and Pakistani government would have no credibility if they kept denying it after a month in the face of overwhelming evidence. It only reluctantly accepted that Kasab was a Pakistani. Oh, and DAWN reported that Christian doctor in Pakistan was killed in blast in Pakistan right after the Mumbai attacks and blamed it on RAW. I mean, really? Go and read the editions of Dawn after the Mumbai attacks again. Claiming credit for something Dawn didn't do is shameless.

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Kash

Nov 22, 2012 09:53pm

Your dastardly name reveals your lowliness. Hatred only breeds hatred, not love or empathy. Two wrongs don't make a right. Let's condemn all bigotry and violence, the least we can do on this forum.

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syama

Nov 22, 2012 09:47pm

Dawn rocks all my good wishes to Asha

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MianArshid

Nov 25, 2012 02:15pm

Mister Moderator seems not to be happy with my comments in which I try to reflect state-thinking. At least state view should also be permitted.

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mike ghaous

Nov 23, 2012 03:53pm

I think Pakistanis are used to live in fear.....ban of cell phones, pillion riding , shrines closures etc etc...
The people & the main stream parties need to decide what is next for them..

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ranbir

Nov 23, 2012 04:02pm

Well said

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nrmr44

Nov 22, 2012 07:34pm

Kasab commited a criminal act. But Pakistani soldiers in Kargil did not, and they were disowned by their govt. too, leaving the Indian Army to bury the dead among them. Even if it's citizen commits a crime abroad every nation on earth prefers to get him back rather than let him rot abroad. That is what gives a nation an "Identity", and makes it "Home" to a citizen
But Pakistan's leaders are exiled, and its citizens in trouble abroad disowned - does that feel like a home you can always go back to?
You don't have to agree with Kasab's actions but, he was your countryman!

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Sanyam Kaushik

Nov 22, 2012 05:46pm

"I am an Indian and regular reader of The Dawn. The standard of this paper is really very high, probably comparable to The BBC. This is another piece which I enjoyed a lot and could not help but drop a few lines."
I Agree and same with me.

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Hasit Hemani

Nov 22, 2012 05:58pm

I went through the article of your news paper for the first time and it left some positive impression on my mind. The people who run this news paper should be believing in some ethics in life and seems to be truth seekers. I can tell you for certainty if they stick to their present values, they uphold, they will be respected by the people who matter every where, all over the world.

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Ali

Nov 23, 2012 09:09pm

Do not like BBC-sorry for the thumb down

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Ali

Nov 23, 2012 09:08pm

And we do not provide them state funerals like you guys did to Bal Thakeray

This fellow Kasab was a perfect find for the terrorist group in Pakistan. Its simple ------- he went to India to kill Indians, got caught, was tried according to the Indian judicial system, given a death penalty and was hanged. Any questions? Body? No one wanted to claim it so he was buried with Muslim rights.

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M K Jha

Nov 22, 2012 08:26am

Well, an advise to sane brothers from Pakistan. If you do not eliminate the Frankenstein monster, be prepared to be devoured by it, and you are getting devoured each day anyway.

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Jayaraj

Nov 22, 2012 08:26am

People want not the stories but the realities. I can easily say that Dawn have done justice to true journalism. Baeutifully written article. Everybody know that the Let is responsible for the Bombay attack. Then why should Pakistan shy away from admitting it.

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Imran

Nov 23, 2012 11:12pm

Calm down Ambreen. Has any Saudi ever apologised to USA for the fact that all 19 suicide bombers on 9/11 were Saudi nationals? We have nothing to apologise for.

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ImmI

Nov 22, 2012 11:46am

Dawn is the pillar of Pakistan's media who has the courage to accept and show the reality.But where is Indian media. . ?Is it has the will and capacity to unveil the truths that have buried after the Mumbai incident. . The killing of Hemit Krkry is mystery, had Indian media courage to search out the reality.All the cases had been dumbed which were proving the involvement of Hindus extremists in terrorist activities.You are no so innocent as you are opt to be. . .

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Imran

Nov 23, 2012 11:10pm

I dont think the Pakistani public needs to vindicate itself of anything. It has already paid a higher price than any other nation on this planet.

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Rohit Sharma

Nov 23, 2012 10:57pm

In India, the only honest newspaper is The Hindu. But since it is south india focused and doesn't carry glossy photos of semi-nude women or masala news, it has not gained much ground. The mass market is thus ruled by the tabloid called Times of India, and its likes.

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NASAH (USA)

Nov 23, 2012 05:02pm

Hanging Kasab was pettily mundane -- keeping him alive was much more meaningful.

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peddarowdy

Nov 22, 2012 08:24am

After all this many in Pakistan still claim Kasab is not a Pakistani at all. I hear you don't find his parents anymore. Where have they been relocated to and by whom?
This piece is an answer to all those who used to find holes in Indian evidence of Kasab being a Pakistani.

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nay sayer

Nov 23, 2012 09:00pm

dear .. i feel glad after readin ur post... whether in form of any religion or race, the third world has its harsh realities. for vested interests ppl can b uesd by powers. regards

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deep

Nov 22, 2012 09:36am

Completely agree - there is no mystery - if you have the will - not only will you find more about kasab you will find the other 9 nine guys who are currently buried in mumbai. No wonder the blatant killing of saleem shahzad goes unpunished - you guys have only appetite for poetry, ghazals and conspiracy - facts constipate you I guess

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Swaran Singh

Nov 24, 2012 06:52pm

That is the most annoying thing on part of Pakistani state. They should clean up this dirt.
Pakistan should concentrate on Nationaleducation, health , agriculture, industrialization & infrastructure.

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Anuj (hyderabad)

Nov 22, 2012 09:15am

Wonderfully written..very unbiased article.....Kudos to Asha

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Yogesh

Nov 22, 2012 09:13am

This article is similar to saying Aliens exists because a few people have seen them OR man has not yet landed on moon. Think in other direction you will find many more facts.

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Indian

Nov 24, 2012 08:23am

The guys who planned and gave shape to this massacre are still laughing in their houses. Here we are discussing minute details of a foot soldier. Those planners are creating thousands more foot soldiers. Expose them, talk about them and stop them.

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Ahsen

Nov 22, 2012 12:57pm

Same should be done in india .

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kabob bob

Nov 23, 2012 08:00pm

denial is the national character of every nation nowadays. you should read the news more often.

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John

Nov 24, 2012 03:53am

Gaurav; this is fairy tail story - can you imagine that two Dawn journalists arrived in Faridkot looking for the guys home and run into his father on street...no body else but his father? what a shot in the dark is this.Looks like these two Dawn journalists are one lucky fellow, they should go and solved other cases as well.

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Thoku

Nov 24, 2012 08:03am

Let's consider this kid as a small pawn in the pond or war against humanity. there are many kids who breed in this pond. We as humans should concentrate on the cleanup of these ponds......

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ghaleezguftar

Nov 22, 2012 03:14pm

commenting requires concern! nobody owns him!

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Mr.India

Nov 22, 2012 11:55am

Hear about google Map my friend :)

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Jayaraj

Nov 22, 2012 12:44pm

I think, you didn't see any Indian News Paper. It is the Indian Media that exposed Samchota express - Blast case. Even top politicians in India now think twice before indulging in corruption. You might have seen the reporting of Gujarat violence in Indian Media. So far as International Issues are concerned no restriction has been impossed on Indian Media by the Government. They are free to report anything. You picked up Arundhati Roy . But she got big media coverage for her all statements.

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Sanjay

Nov 22, 2012 05:27pm

Read "The Hindu" and Indian equivalent of "The Dawn". I would not equate both of these institutions to "The BBC" as it is the most biased paper.

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Asad

Nov 22, 2012 01:29pm

First of all the correct term to use is Pakistanis. Second of all indians seem to have an obsession with Pakistani news site spending their entire day trolling here most of the people have better things to do.

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Sumon K Ray

Nov 22, 2012 01:04pm

I am an Indian and regular reader of The Dawn. The standard of this paper is really very high, probably comparable to The BBC. This is another piece which I enjoyed a lot and could not help but drop a few lines.

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Human

Nov 22, 2012 01:01pm

As Indian I don't hate any Pakistan nation and even don't want any disturbance between two neighbors. Why so hate between us.. who peoples are divided us already gone and still we are fighting with each other blood. How much we are spending to kill each other if we spent on development then there will no poor in our both countries. Some people are making money and enjoying royal life after washing brain of poor young star like Kasab. Please stop all this and join hand for peace.. no religious tell us to play with blood.. after committing crime no one will go to heaven... Love Human

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Major

Nov 24, 2012 08:06am

Dawn is not impartial.

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sandy

Nov 22, 2012 07:37am

I feel sorry for people like kasab who are brainwashed to carry killings of fellow humans in the name of Jihad. Pakistan should try to control this menace by providing employment to its young citizens so as to protect them from getting in to trap of terrorists

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Swaran Singh

Nov 23, 2012 08:05pm

Ambreen let us not attempt to place the blame elsewhere. Ajmal Kasab was driven to this destiny by Zaki ur rehamn & likes of Hafiz Sayed. Even USA has failed in Afganistan. Force & voilence can never achieve ends. If Hafiz sayed thinks he can pressurize or conquer India then he is wrong. Let the youth of Pakistan realize their life through peace n reason. What will you do to some one who kills 166 innocent people in 5 minutes. This is sheer madness.
Please tell these merchants of death that they can not misguide the youth of Pakistan.
Let us look forward to an era of reason & logical understanding of modern challanges arround us. India & Pakistan both have tremendous potential. Our ancestors are same ; our socio psychological mechanisms are same; let us look at an era of social progress in ultimate peace.
Swaran Singh

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Junaid Khan (Pune)

Nov 22, 2012 08:38am

Excellent article. Welldone.

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Iqbal

Nov 22, 2012 02:26pm

is it possible to carry terrorist attacks with google Map my friend?

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Papa

Nov 22, 2012 12:34pm

This is in article of courage and quality of Dawn. It looks like Pak is nation in mourning death of Kasab. Only international players commenting on this. But sad to see Pakis comments missing.

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Ali

Nov 24, 2012 01:25am

this investigation is 10000000 times better than Abottabad doctor case

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Critical_Thinker

Nov 24, 2012 01:26am

Like What? Several times, I attempted different papers, only to be turned off by their level of writing.. every single time.

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Bharathi

Nov 22, 2012 03:06pm

Wrong... totally wrong brother !!! We are a proud democracy. Agreed we have cheap corrupt politicians who would do anything for money. But thats all in individual capacity. Our institutions are on solid foundation and stand tall. I am an ordinary peace loving Indian. I am saying this. We have freedom of speech and expression. Our media has no restrictions what so ever. We citizens will never compromise on our fundamental rights. Who ever told you this told you wrong. Otherwise we would not have survived the unity of such diverse cultures. Please see and think with an open and broad mind.

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Saad (@saad_durrani)

Nov 22, 2012 07:28am

While we hate to admit that Kasab has blood on this hands, there shall be an investigation of the Indian side of involvement. A young man from Faridkot would have known Mumbai that good with his first time in the city.

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guest

Nov 22, 2012 02:58pm

Its shows your high level of ignorance. Read 'The Hindu' the best in entire south Asia.

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Hasit Hemani

Nov 23, 2012 10:00am

I disagree with the reader's comment about Times of India.

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HatePakis

Nov 22, 2012 07:36am

There is no mystery or theories. Its simple. Your whole country is hot bed for Terrorism and Terrorists. Remember this - Those who dig a pit for others, definitely fall in that one day!

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ashok sai

Nov 22, 2012 11:10am

Its Dawn first revealed the identity of Kasab immediately after the Mumbai massacre and here again it stands with truth, bows to Dawn team.

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Zimbo_Indian

Nov 25, 2012 01:21pm

Ambreen's apology is evidence of his greater sense of identification with Pakistan on the one hand and with humanity on the other. As a human he identifies himself with the 166 victims and as a Pakistani he identifies himself with the 10 terrorists. Both are indications of a superior human being who has been bestowed by God with the qualities that He loves - compassion and humility. It seems God ignored the Saudis when He was distributing these qualities. Maybe some Pakistanis were also left out. (By the way, is Ambreen a he or a she?)

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Javed Rahman

Nov 23, 2012 07:27pm

Very true

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nitesh

Nov 22, 2012 10:04am

ha ha ha ha ha ha

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Siraj Ahmed Khan

Nov 22, 2012 08:37am

Beautifully written!!! Kudos!

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VIVEK

Nov 22, 2012 02:27pm

me too.
deeply saddened by his execution. Now he is gone all the facts ( whatever little he knew of organizers / handlers ) are burried with him for now forever. God knows what he might have revealed in his later years.
In usa, it was the thanks giving that day too ( when the attck took place ) and today again it happens to be thanks giving day.
Nver ever I felt there were state ( pakistan) actor were involved. It is quiet possible that someone took advantage of these youth who are fed anti india ( HINDU) poison day in and day out.
Leave the indian journalist/media to thoughts of their own. we have seen the distortion done to phoolan devi's life both by print ( biography ) as well as done by movie ( shekhar kapoor )
Finally ,
here is a book written by an Indian journalist which

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A Rehman

Nov 22, 2012 07:23am

A Gold Medal to Champions of Reporting, who would compromise every single national interest in the desire of breaking a news first of all in the useless pursuit of making waves of sensationalism through the spines of all those who watch their sacred, lawless and out of control TV Channels.

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M. Iqbal

Nov 23, 2012 05:42pm

I am sincerely disagree with that this man was a Pakistani origin. All tall tell is cloudy, speculations. They dump Osama's body in the Ocean. They bury Kassab's boy in side the jail court. There are lots of ifs and buts. But you can see the hatred, hysteria of Indian media. Not one Pakistani official or NGO were ever met Kassab. His photos were taken from distance. What language he spoke, his accent. His neighbor hood and his friend in his make believe home town. Think of it, it all look suspicious or you just believe what Indian government and Indian media saying. And some hired so called journalists saying about it.

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Shah

Nov 22, 2012 11:34am

I wish there was a news paper in India like Dawn. Media in India cannot dare to challenge establishments line in international relations. Few who dare like Arundhati Roy are now outcast to larger Indian society.

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Jawad

Nov 24, 2012 03:01am

Poorly written article, what is the message here? too many things discussed and not any of them clearly discussed. you trying to tell us that the Kasab does not fit a stereotype of 'terrorist' but then you shed no light on it. You start telling a story of his family and village, why though? how does this connect with the first point?

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Jawwad

Nov 22, 2012 03:31pm

46 people liking this comments gives a true picture of Indian hate toward Pakistanis. I live in US and notice it outright in every aspect but it's alive and kicking virtually as well.

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Truly

Nov 22, 2012 02:45pm

Writers, you got your point across very elegantly. Well Done!

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Mohammad Rafay

Nov 23, 2012 10:42am

well said bro

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Jawwad

Nov 22, 2012 03:24pm

Noble comment but then you blundered in the end. Hafiz Saeed is as much to blame as Bal Thackarey. May God bless his soul. These young men with no hope of bright future are being exploited for petty purposes. Exploitation is to blame.

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Rajesh

Nov 22, 2012 04:15pm

I am an Indian and my salute to the Dawn for the unbiased journalism. I feel sad for Ajmal Kasab. He was a poor guy brain washed and misused by some criminal minds against India.

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Kadir Saleem

Nov 22, 2012 05:39pm

Kasab was plainly a trigger, an insignificant player, but the real players are still out there roaming freely, brainwashing and plotting other terror acts. Who will catch and hang them?

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Walid

Nov 22, 2012 03:43pm

Due to inequalities in Pakistan,poor are driven towards terrorism and Kasab is one of them.

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Mandeep

Nov 22, 2012 06:35pm

What is your point ? Please elaborate. Hemant Karkere was one of over dozen security personnel killed in the attacks. He was a brave officer and as head of Anti terror squad he reached the scene of attack and got hit by bullets. There is no mystery in his death.
India has its own share of extremists but none of them is patronized by Government and none has resources and capabilities to cross international border and kill innocent people. India's not being so innocent does not stop Pakistan from investigating the way average youngmen in Pakistan are being transformed into killing machines by certian groups. Thats is point authors are making. No one is saying everyone is a peace loving saint in India.

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Anjan Mitra

Nov 24, 2012 07:20am

I am an Indian and advising Ahmed, my fellow countryman to accept Ambreen's view that most Pakistani citizens are condemning the henious act. But Pakistan state rulers seem not interested in developing relation with us. Citizens need to force them for permanent peace.

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XXZ-C

Nov 24, 2012 08:35am

Same source?

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rahul

Nov 24, 2012 08:37am

no person is born terrorist...kasab was poor little kid who was convinced to kill to make god happy...the real enemy is a doctrine of religious supremacy and hate...which was a useful political tool when world was run by tribes and warlords and you needed to motivate any one available to kill for you....the world has changed...and decision makers (pak army) must realize this and stop playing with innocence of young men...

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confused mind

Nov 22, 2012 10:32am

Really sad about his execution
was a bright & dedicated young man
Had he been in different circumstances may have done very well
A real victim of circumstances ,unknown & unsung wanted by none loathed by all
what a death for a wrong cause
wonder why fate is so complex & cruel

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Ch.subba Rao

Nov 22, 2012 02:15pm

Great article and Dawn standard of reporting is always impartial and set an high standard.Interesting and meaningful mouthpiece

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asfi

Nov 22, 2012 03:34pm

Are you sure he was hanged and burried. Come on stop this melodrama. Don't externalize your internal failures.

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roger

Nov 23, 2012 03:04pm

The best example of the outcome of democracy is this article from Dawn. Mull over it.

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XXZ-C

Nov 24, 2012 08:39am

What facts,,,made up ones?

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Zimbo_Indian

Nov 25, 2012 12:55pm

Dawn is a very good, objective, liberal and secular newspaper. I think its Indian equivalent would be 'The Hindu'. Times of India, Hindustan Times and Asian Age are also some where in the same category.

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Gaurav

Nov 22, 2012 11:38am

Thank you Dawn for your expose back in 2008. Your relentless efforts for finding the truth and impartial journalism have won international praise. I would really appreciate if you could conduct a similar expose on the other 9 terrorists. Much is said about Kasab but hardly anything is known on the background of the rest 9 of them. Best wishes with you!

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Swaran Singh

Nov 23, 2012 05:46pm

The moderator has removed my earlier comment. I will try once more.
The reason for removing my comment seems in nailing the handlers of Ajmal Kasab who was used as a trigger to massacre people on a railway terminus in Mumbai. My heart has cried for 166 innocent people. However Ajmal was himself the 167th victim of this tragedy. This impressionable young man Ajmal Kasab's story makes us sad more so because the fake Jihadi's were the real culprits who trapped his father for money and sent him to unleash this mayhem in Mumbai.
I woulmld like to ask a question to all pakistani's/ What will you do if Ajmal Kasab would have done this in Lahore or Karachi? I am against his execution as he was infact less culpable than those Jihadi's behind. This the time to shut the shop of Zaki Chacha & Sayed Hafiz so that the youth of Pakistan do not become what Ajmal Kasab became; a heinous killer. Ajmal Kasab definitely deserved a job to earn a living for his family. Swaran Singh

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The one would like to care

Nov 22, 2012 07:04pm

I am an Indian and opposed to capital punishment. We should all get together and try to understand (more like dissect) why Ajmal became the way he was.
It is easy to pass a judgement. My opinion.. Lack of education and proper support from the society. Well, that is a judgement in itself.

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Sri1

Nov 22, 2012 07:04pm

Media stories reflect the facts and the truth is that "Hindu extremism" is a mild, temporary defensive phase. Perpetrators of violent crimes irrespective of religion are being punished in India, however slowly.
Whereas the counterpart (Islamic extremism) is growing vigorously the world over in opposition to all other faiths.

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Hm

Nov 22, 2012 06:03pm

You mean google map is spreading terrorism. Come on google map is so basic.

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Mian

Nov 23, 2012 06:06pm

The main reason is he was not supposed to do what he did, ........to be captured alive!

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rahul

Nov 24, 2012 08:38am

Times of india is most corrupt paper i have ever seen...dawn is better...

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Saurabh

Nov 22, 2012 09:32am

the last sentence of ajmal before hanging was - "ya Allah forgive me for what I have done".The moral is ajmal is a poor,unemployed, misguided and brainwashed guy.The real accused master is Hafeez saeed.

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Ashish Kumar

Nov 22, 2012 05:55pm

Journalism is to bring out the facts to light rather than supporting vested interests of Governments which often use it as tool of propaganda for their own good but certainly Dawn is doing a great job in preserving its status as "free media unit" at a time when pakistan is going through its hardest times.

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Madhu

Nov 22, 2012 02:49pm

@Imml - I agree with you. Indian media is currupted & biased. They work largely for TRP ratings. However, there are few exeptions, "The Hindu" and couple of other news papers maintain very high standard in India. Dont ever read "Times of India", its crap to the core !!!
I like Dawn and i have been following news in dawn for more then 7 to 8 years.